Love Truth, Fear God, 7/7/16
Since we are in this very unsettling season when the falling away that is prophesied in 2Thessalonians 2 is happening so fast and is leading up to the Antichrist Revelation, we need to understand what we need spiritually so that we will not also be ensnared by the enemy and also fall away from the faith. I see three main things we need from the Lord to stay safe: the love of the truth, the Fear of the Lord, and discernment. These three attributes in our hearts will protect us from falling away.
If these leaders who have gone after the false prophet pope lately had good discernment they would have been able to tell that the pope is evil and up to no good and thus they might have escaped his deception.
I believe the lack of discernment is another major factor in how believers are now falling into the arms of the false prophet pope. Discernment keeps us away from evil:
Malachi 3:18
Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
I believe the Fear The Lord is another extremely important attribute that we need in order to remain under the covering of God in this time. Importance of Holy Fear is very great and there are many scriptures on this subject, here are a few:
Psalm 2:11
Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 85:9
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Psalm 86:11
Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.
The fear of the Lord helps us keep from sin because we understand that God is a holy God who, although he is love, he still punishes sin so that it will not destroy us altogether, even in the believer.
So we see clearly from this passage that the lack of the love of the truth is a huge factor in how those who were once of the household of the faith fall away and are lost.
The love of the truth is what is missing in those who fall away from the faith:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Great Apostasy
2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he[Michael] who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(PRAYER) Abba, Father, Great and Gracious God, we thank you for our salvation. We seek to keep it and not throw it away as some will do in these times. Lord we pray that you teach us, fashion in us and grace us with the love of the truth, the fear of the Lord and excellent discernment. Please strengthen our hearts with these attributes that we may stay on the narrow path that leads to life in these treacherous times. Thank you, Mighty God. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Please take seriously the question of whether you know God and are walking in adequate obedience to him because the question of your eternal destiny is paramount and you must not play with it and make yourself vulnerable to going to hell as these falling away brothers may do(we hope and pray not!). If you do not know God then please pray this A Prayer To Receive Eternal Salvation today and be saved. If you know him but need to go deeper in him then please pray this Prayer Of Consecration and submit to him more fully.
Steve Pursell , 7/7/16